Arming teachers

The massacre in a Connecticut elementary school last month provoked fierce debate in the United States about how to prevent such tragedies from reoccurring. To that end, President Obama announced a wide-ranging set of gun control proposals on Jan. 16. But the suggestion put forward by the country’s powerful pro-gun lobby is not to reduce gun ownership, but to arm teachers and authorities in schools. Many have already been attending courses like this teachers-only firearms class in Florida.

11 Jan 2013. SARASOTA, United States. REUTERS/Brian Blanco

A free class at the Veritas Training Academy in Sarasota, Florida, shows a group of local public school teachers how to disarm an attacker, using rubber guns to demonstrate. Similar free classes have also been offered to hundreds of teachers in Ohio, Texas and Utah.

Training like this is in line with suggestions made by the National Rifle Association (NRA), which has also called for armed guards to be placed in schools across the country.

Critics have ridiculed calls to arm teachers as a foolhardy idea promoted by overzealous gun enthusiasts, saying it would only add danger to the classroom while distracting teachers from their job of educating children.

Dennis Van Roekel, the head of the largest U.S. teachers' union, said: "If your purpose is to reduce gun violence in schools, then the solution isn't to add more guns to schools."

Now, with passionate arguments on both sides, the issue is set for a showdown after President Obama unveiled proposals on Jan. 16 for the biggest gun-control push in generations.

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11 Jan 2013. SARASOTA, United States. REUTERS/Brian Blanco

A local school teacher taking the free firearms class at the Veritas Training Academy uses a rubber gun during a practice drill on disarming an attacker.

11 Jan 2013. SARASOTA, United States. REUTERS/Brian Blanco

Firearms instructor Mike Magowan demonstrates how to disarm a person holding a gun to one's head.

11 Jan 2013. SARASOTA, United States. REUTERS/Brian Blanco

The teachers practice disarming attackers.

11 Jan 2013. SARASOTA, United States. REUTERS/Brian Blanco

Some of the school teachers taking the class smile, while one takes part in a drill with a rubber training gun.

11 Jan 2013. SARASOTA, United States. REUTERS/Brian Blanco

The class instructor, Mike Magowan, uses an edgeless training knife to explain how to disarm a person holding a blade to one’s neck.

11 Jan 2013. SARASOTA, United States. REUTERS/Brian Blanco

Magowan looks on as one of the teachers in the class takes aim at a target during the training.

11 Jan 2013. SARASOTA, United States. REUTERS/Brian Blanco

He uses a rubber pistol to demonstrate a shooting stance to the class.

11 Jan 2013. SARASOTA, United States. REUTERS/Brian Blanco

Magowan watches as one of his fellow instructors assists a student at the firing range.

11 Jan 2013. SARASOTA, United States. REUTERS/Brian Blanco

Bullet holes are left in a target showing an armed adult taking a child hostage.